Carbon‐Based Electron Buffer Layer on ZnO <sub>x</sub> −Fe <sub>5</sub> C <sub>2</sub> −Fe <sub>3</sub> O <sub>4</sub> Boosts Ethanol Synthesis from CO <sub>2</sub> Hydrogenation
Yang Wang, Wenhang Wang, Ruosong He, Meng Li, Jinqiang Zhang, Fengliang Cao, Jianxin Liu, Shiyuan Lin, Xinhua Gao, Guohui Yang, Mingqing Wang, Tao Xing, Tao Liu, Qiang Liu, Han Hu, Noritatsu Tsubaki, Mingbo Wu
Abstract
Abstract The conversion of CO 2 into ethanol with renewable H 2 has attracted tremendous attention due to its integrated functions of carbon elimination and chemical synthesis, but remains challenging. The electronic properties of a catalyst are essential to determine the adsorption strength and configuration of the key intermediates, therefore altering the reaction network for targeted synthesis. Herein, we describe a catalytic system in which a carbon buffer layer is employed to tailor the electronic properties of the ternary ZnO x −Fe 5 C 2 −Fe 3 O 4 , in which the electron‐transfer pathway (ZnO x →Fe species or carbon layer) ensures the appropriate adsorption strength of −CO* on the catalytic interface, facilitating C−C coupling between −CH x * and −CO* for ethanol synthesis. Benefiting from this unique electron‐transfer buffering effect, an extremely high ethanol yield of 366.6 g EtOH kg cat −1 h −1 (with CO of 10 vol % co‐feeding) is achieved from CO 2 hydrogenation. This work provides a powerful electronic modulation strategy for catalyst design in terms of highly oriented synthesis.